Laboratory Safety Inspection Checklist
K 001 Science laboratories shall have an inventory of chemicals on hand.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40015
296-62-40025
K 002 Science laboratories shall have a written Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
K 003 Emergency eyewash and shower stations shall be provided as required by L & I WISHA rules
Required
296-62-130 Part L
246-366-140
296-62-40025 Part Q
ANSI Z358.1-1998
K 004 Eyewash stations snail be located within 50 feet; or ten seconds walking distance from all lab science work stations.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-130(2)(a)
WRD 91-13A & 12.35
K005 Safety showers shall be located within 50 feet or ten seconds of all laboratory work stations. A deluge shower is required in chemical areas.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-130 Part L
296-62-130(2)(c)
ANSI Z358.1-1998
K 006 Eyewash stations and emergency showers shall be handicap accessible and operable "hands-free" so that the user can hold both eyes open. Hand-held showers and eyewash equipment do not meet current L & 1 WISHA rules (except as auxiliary or extra protection)
Required
ADA 296-62-130
K 007 Eye wash stations shall provide 2.5 gpm for at least 15 minutes at 25 PSI or less. In some areas with high water pressure, flow regulators may be required on the eye wash stations.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-130 (2 )(c)
K 008 Emergency showers and eye wash units shall be tested for proper operation quarterly. Written documentation of tests shall be maintained on site.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-130 (2) (f)
K 009 Normal room ventilation does not provide an adequate number of air changes for chemical laboratories, chemical storage rooms, and photography darkrooms. Adequate ventilation must be provided. In new construction, UBC and WISHA require 8-12 air changes per hour.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-110; 075
296-62-40025 (3) (d) (Xl)
K 010 A building commissioning report which documents air volumes meeting 15 cubic feet per minute (cfm) per occupant is recommended.
Required
DOH Indoor Air Best Management Practices Manual
K 011 There shall be an on-demand, mechanical ventilation system providing additional air exchange as required by WISHA and the UBC for chemical areas such as photo darkrooms, storerooms and chemistry labs (this is in addition to the building HVAC system),
Required
246-366-140
296-62-110
296-62-075
K 012 Make-up air must be provided to laboratories in amounts equal to exhaust air when the ventilation rate is increased.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-11009
K 013 A11 lab and chemical storeroom air exhausts shall be on a separate system from other areas of the school and vent directly to the outside in a manner which prevents exhaust from re-entering the building (away from occupied areas and air intakes)
Required
246-366-140
296-62-11007
K 014 No unapproved heating devices are allowed in laboratories or storerooms. Portable electric stoves are not approved heating devices For laboratories and storerooms.
Required
246-366-140
286-2445601 UFC
K 015 Electrical receptacles shall be properly grounded. Ground fault interrupter (GFI) devices shall be provided on all electrical receptacles within six (6) feet of sinks, gas pipes, and other grounding sources. There must be sufficient number of outlets to minimize the use of extension cords.
Required
246-366-140
296-24-95607 NEC
K 016 All electrical equipment shall be properly grounded. Portable electrical equipment shall be double insulated or provided with a UL-approved ground prong.
Required
246-366-140
296-24-95607
296-24-24515(3) NEC
K 017 Electrical extension cords shall be UL listed, and the wire size shall be appropriate for the applied use.
Required
246-366-140
296-24-95609UFC NEC
K 018 There shall be at least one demonstration fume hood for each laboratory where hazardous chemicals are used.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40025 (3)(IV) (b)
296-62-0009 (3)(c)
K 019 Fume hoods in school buildings must comply with AHERA asbestos regulations.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-077 AHERA
K 020 Chemicals shall not be stored in fume hoods except where the hood has been specifically built with a ventilated storage area. Chemicals shall not be stored in the demonstration or working area of the hood.
Required
296-62-0025 (3) (d) (ii) (E)
K 021 A11 fume hoods shall exhaust directly to the outside, away from all occupied areas and air intakes in order to prevent exhaust from re-entering the building.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-11007 UMC
K 022 Fume hood air velocity shall be 60-125 linear feet per minute (LFM) checked quarterly with a velocity meter. Written documentation of all tests shall be maintained on site. The exhaust capture path shall direct contaminants away from the user. With the sash raised to 12 inches, the air flow should measure at least 60 LFM.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0025 (3) (c) (iv) (H) ASHRAE 10-1995
K 023 Fume hood use snail tie required when using chemicals with a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 50 ppm or less.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40025 (3) (e) (i) (AA)
K 024 Au electrical devices used in the fume hood such as switches, lights, motors, etc., shall be explosion-proof.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0025
296-24-95613 Part L, NEC
K 025 The chemical hygiene officer (e.g., science department chairperson or science teacher) shall maintain a written operations and maintenance program for laboratory fume hoods and other mechanical equipment in science laboratories.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0025
296-62-t0009(3)(c)
K 026 Master shut-offs shall be provided and identified for electricity and gas in all laboratory areas. Directional signs shall be provided. A master water shutoff is recommended, but not required.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40025 (3) (d) (ix)
K 027 Invisible hazards (radiation, chemical, electrical, laser, and heat) shall be posted with warning signs or symbols when present.
Required
246-366-140
296-24-135
296-62- 09004 Part J
K 028 N0 food items are permitted in chemical laboratories or storerooms (including lab refrigerators). No eating, drinking or gum chewing is permitted in labs to prevent poisoning through ingestion.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40025
K029 Chemical storerooms shall be lockable, inaccessible to unsupervised students, and have self-closing doors per WISHA, DOH, and state fire code requirements for chemical laboratories and chemical storerooms. Doors shall have a one-hour fire rating (or greater as required by local fire code).
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0009 296-62-40025 UFC
K 030 Chemical storerooms shall be large enough for adequate and proper storage of chemicals. Storage areas shall be maintained in a neat, organized, and clean manner with chemicals stored compatibly.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0025
K 031 Chemical storerooms shall have sturdy, well supported shelves secured to the walls. All shelves shall have "earthquake lips" on all shelf edges.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-4002S
K 032 Chemical storerooms shall have all hazardous chemicals stored at or below eye level (typically below 5'6") with heavy objects stored on lower shelves. Higher shelves may be used for other items; e.g., glassware, equipment, paper goods, etc.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-40025
K 033 Chemical storage areas shall be kept cool (between 55 and 80 degrees F) and dry (relative humidity between 30 and 60%).
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0025
296-62-0009
K 034 Chemicals should be organized and stored according to a recognizable, safe system (such as Flinn, Baker, Sargent-Welch, etc.) and should have the four color NFPA diamond on the container for emergency responders. Labels should clearly denote the contents of each container and the date received.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-0025
K 035 Chemicals marked only with teacher codes (e.g. A, B, C, 0), for student testing/analysis should not be allowed in permanent storage. Mix only enough for one day's classes and then restock or dispose. All left over unmarked chemicals should be disposed of in accordance with WAC requirements. Daily disposal is recommended.
Recommended
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-40025
NFPA
K 036 All flammables shall be stored in approved flammable storage cabinets with self-closing doors. Flammables (red labels) and acids and bases (white labels), shall be stored separately.
Required
246-366-140
296-24-33009
296-62-40009
K 037 The chemicals in Table 1 of Appendix D to this Guide are a safety hazard and may not be used in K-12 schools. If found, they must be removed from the school by qualified personnel and properly disposed of in accordance with the school's chemical hygiene plan and DOE regulations.
Required (Note: the current state list is preliminary and its contents are in dispute. dwt)
246-366-140
K 038 The chemicals in Table 2 of Appendix D to this Guide have been determined by DOH and OSPI as suitable in small quantity and in advanced classes in senior high laboratories. No more than one pound of each chemical may be stored on site in any case.
Recommended
246-366-140
296-62-40009
K 039 Chemicals shall be used within one or two years of purchase. Old chemicals shall be disposed of in accordance with DOE regulations. An inventory of all chemicals shall be maintained and kept up to date. All chemicals shall be dated upon receipt into the lab or storage area.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-40025
K 040 There shall be a separate storage shelf, cabinet or area for reactants such as sodium metal, potassium metal, and metabolic peroxides.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0009
296-62-40025
K 041 An acids shall" be stored in approved acid cabinets. Non-compatible acids shall be stored separately (e.g., nitric acid).
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-40025
K 042 Chemicals are stored according to their properties, not alphabetically (i.e., flammables, health hazard, reactive, oxidizer, radioactive, etc.).
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-40025
K 043 only explosion proof refrigerators shall be used to store volatile chemicals. Non-explosion-proof refrigerators or other electrical devices shall not be located in areas with vaporous or flammable chemicals.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009 UFC
K 044 Instructors shall wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when using corrosive, toxic, reactive, or irritating chemicals and during hazardous activities as required by L & I WISHA rule.
Required
248-366-140
296-62-40025 (3) (d)
296-24-07501-A2
K 045 Eye protection, safety glasses, and face shields shall meet requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z.87.1). Students should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when using corrosive, toxic, reactive, or irritating chemicals and during hazardous activities.
Required
246-66-140
296-62-40009
296-24-078-Part A2 70.100
K 046 A written policy notifying wearers of contact lenses should be developed to address the potential for eye irritation or injury if chemicals, gases or fumes adversely react with contact lens (see 296-62-40025 (1) - General Rules).
Recommended (Note: a literature search found no documented case where fumes caused problems with contact lens wearers. It is now believed that standard eye protection may be adequate for people with contact lens. dwt)
246.366-140
296-24-078 A-2
296-2-40025
K 047 A non-asbestos fire blanket shall be provided, identified, readily available, and visible to students and staff.
Required (Note: Originally the fire blanket was intended to extinquish people on fire. But it is now believed it better for a person on fire to IMMEDIATELY drop and roll. A person with clothing on fire should never run to obtain a blanket. Subsequently fire blankets were recommended for keeping a burned person warm. But it is now considered crucial not to wrap any burned area with a material such as a blanket where additional damage may be caused upon removal. Recently it has been proposed the fire blanket could be used to provide privacy for someone removing clothing as recommended while using an emergency shower. But a shower curtain would be more appropriate. DWT)
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-40025
K048 Safety shields on the demonstration table shall be used for demonstrations wherever the possibility of explosion exists.
Required (Note: A shield is available for short term loan in Sequim High School B2.
246-366-140
296-62-40009
K 049 Jewelry shall not be worn if personal safety would be jeopardized.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
K 050 Loose hair shall be restrained so that personal safety is not jeopardized.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
296-62-40025
K 051 All laboratories shall have a written cleanup plan for spills. All laboratories shall have a spill cleanup kit or materials for absorbing spills identified and readily available to students and staff.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0009
K 052 Waste disposal shall adhere to DOE regulations.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
RCRA - CH.40CFR
K 053 A written and documented lab safety orientation shall be provided for all staff and students.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
K 054 A telephone (or intercom) for reporting emergencies shall be located in or near the laboratory. Emergency telephone numbers shall be readily accessible. Staff shall be trained in emergency procedures.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
K 055 Lab floor plan shall be available the school office. A listing of exits, chemicals, and storage place of chemicals shall be included for use by emergency responders.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-40009
K 056 Fire extinguishers shall be provided (ABC type). Fire extinguishers shall be identified and readily accessible to staff and students. Demonstration or hands-on training shall be provided during safety orientation.
Required
246-366-140
296-24-592
296-62-40009
296-62-40011
K 057 A fire alarm system shall be provided. Alarm pull stations shall be identified and readily accessible to staff and students.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-0009
296-24-3101 G-3
K 058 Fire retardant lab coats shall be used as required by L & 1 WISHA rules when appropriate for a current project or demonstration.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-07501
K 059 Formaldehyde is not allowed in K-12 schools. Biology specimens stored in formaldehyde shall be decanted and preserved in a solution of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or other equivalent solution. Formaldehyde disposal shall adhere to DOE regulations.
Required
246-366-140
296-62-07540
K 060 Biology specimens shall be stored in sealed containers to prevent evaporation of liquid contents and resulting IAQ issues. Specimens preserved in hazardous or dangerous chemicals (alcohol, formalin, etc.) shall be stored in locked cabinets. (Note formalin is a formaldehyde solution; see K 059. dwt)
Required
246-366-140
296-24-135 B-2
296-62-080 Part J
